Every year on April 23, over 100 countries worldwide recognize the international holiday known as World Book Day. The day celebrates all things book-related and aims to encourage reading, publishing, and copyright. Although this holiday was created to get children to appreciate books and promote reading for pleasure, it is a day that is observed by all ages and groups. 

Here at The Life Currency, we stan a good book. Whether for education, information, or entertainment, books have been a big part of how we have been making it through the craziness of life. So, in honor of World Book Day, we are sharing our favorite books. Read on and see if any of your favorites are on the list, and find something new for your next read. 

Mom & Me & Mom by Maya Angelou

“For the first time, Angelou reveals the triumphs and struggles of being the daughter of Vivian Baxter, an indomitable spirit whose petite size belied her larger-than-life presence—a presence absent during much of Angelou’s early life. When her marriage began to crumble, Vivian famously sent three-year-old Maya and her older brother away from their California home to live with their grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas. The subsequent feelings of abandonment stayed with Angelou for years, but their reunion, a decade later, began a story that has never before been told. In Mom & Me & Mom, Angelou dramatizes her years reconciling with the mother she preferred to simply call ‘Lady,’ revealing the profound moments that shifted the balance of love and respect between them.”

The older I get, the more I try to understand my mom. I’m so grateful that we get to be friends now, but it took me a while to see her as a person. This book reminds us that our moms & mother figures are strong, soft, move mountains, and most importantly they are human. - Jordan

The Alchemist  by Paulo Coelho

“Paulo Coelho's masterpiece tells the mystical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of worldly treasure. His quest will lead him to riches far different—and far more satisfying—than he ever imagined. Santiago's journey teaches us about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, of recognizing opportunity and learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, most importantly, to follow our dreams.”

Another Country by James Baldwin

“Set in Greenwich Village, Harlem, and France, among other locales, Another Country is a novel of passions--sexual, racial, political, artistic--that is stunning for its emotional intensity and haunting sensuality, depicting men and women, blacks and whites, stripped of their masks of gender and race by love and hatred at the most elemental and sublime. In a small set of friends, Baldwin imbues the best and worst intentions of liberal America in the early 1970s.”

I love that this books gives us a peek into relationships that aren’t heterosexual in a time when being gay or otherwise was not celebrated. James Baldwin was brave and direct in unpacking the nuance. I appreciate the complexity of the characters and his honest diessction of what love can get us. - Jordan

The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

“Since its first publication, The Artist's Way phenomena has inspired the genius of Elizabeth Gilbert and millions of readers to embark on a creative journey and find a deeper connection to process and purpose. Julia Cameron's novel approach guides readers in uncovering problem areas and pressure points that may be restricting their creative flow and offers techniques to free up any areas where they might be stuck, opening up opportunities for self-growth and self-discovery.

 

The program begins with Cameron’s most vital tools for creative recovery – The Morning Pages, a daily writing ritual of three pages of stream-of-consciousness, and The Artist Date, a dedicated block of time to nurture your inner artist. From there, she shares hundreds of exercises, activities, and prompts to help readers thoroughly explore each chapter. She also offers guidance on starting a ‘Creative Cluster’ of fellow artists who will support you in your creative endeavors.”

Earthseed Series by Octavia E. Butler

“One of the world’s most respected authors of science fiction imagines an apocalyptic near-future Earth where a remarkable young woman discovers that her destiny calls her to try and change the world around her. Octavia E. Butler’s brilliant two-volume Earthseed saga offers a startling vision of an all-too-possible tomorrow, in which walls offer no protection from a civilization gone mad.”

There are books that are so powerful and beautifully written that from the first page your hooked and by the last page your life has been changed. That’s the Earthseed series for me. It tells the story of a strong, independent young woman trying to find a God, meaning and purpose in a dystopian society. And the most compelling part about it is that although it”s science fiction, it’s plausible. It’s scary in it’s familiarity and really put aspects of life, destiny and community in a different light. - Tekira

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

“Fragments of a Great Secret have been found in oral traditions, in literature, in religions, and philosophies throughout the centuries. For the first time, all the pieces of The Secret come together in an incredible revelation that will be life-transforming for all who experience it.

In this book, you’ll learn how to use The Secret in every aspect of your life—money, health, relationships, happiness, and in every interaction you have in the world. You’ll begin to understand the hidden, untapped power that’s within you, and this revelation can bring joy to every aspect of your life.

The Secret contains wisdom from modern-day teachers—men and women who have used it to achieve health, wealth, and happiness. By applying the knowledge of The Secret, they bring to light compelling stories of eradicating disease, acquiring massive wealth, overcoming obstacles, and achieving what many would regard as impossible.”

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

“Sent by their mother to live with their devout, self-sufficient grandmother in a small Southern town, Maya and her brother, Bailey, endure the ache of abandonment and the prejudice of the local ‘powhitetrash.’ At eight years old and back at her mother’s side in St. Louis, Maya is attacked by a man many times her age—and has to live with the consequences for a lifetime. Years later, in San Francisco, Maya learns that love for herself, the kindness of others, her own strong spirit, and the ideas of great authors (‘I met and fell in love with William Shakespeare’) will allow her to be free instead of imprisoned.

 

Poetic and powerful, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings will touch hearts and change minds for as long as people read.”

This book has been a favorite of mine since I first read it in Junior High. Being a poet and writer myself, I was drawn to Maya Angelou’s story and connected with her passion for the written word. I felt like I understood her. I appreciated the transparency of the book and the personal insight into her thoughts. - Tekira